fry&#039;s springhttp://www.readthehook.com/taxonomy/term/5440/all
enSpotlight on Fry's Springhttp://www.readthehook.com/109303/spotlight-frys-spring
<p><span><b>Area: &nbsp;</b>Fry’s Spring<b> <br /></b></span></p>
<p><span><b>Price range: &nbsp;</b>$108,800-$882,500<b><br /></b></span></p>
<p><span><b>Schools: </b>Jackson Via &amp; Johnson, depending on location, </span><span>Walker and Buford,</span>&nbsp;Charlottesville High School</p>
<p><b>Pros: </b>Easy access to amenities, tight-knit community</p>
<p><span><b>Cons: </b>Effects of student and rental housing on property values, heavy traffic during </span>football games</p>
<p><span>Lions and tigers and bears in Fry’s Spring? How about a casino, an open-air theater, and an amusement park? If those images stretch the imagination, add in a 100-room hotel, the county’s first steeplechase, and a natural spring that served as the site of a great jubilee held in 1869 “without regard to color”&#8211; and the image becomes downright fantastical. But it's true &#8211; the Fry’s Spring area was home to all of these attractions through the years.</span></p>
<p>Today, the Fry’s Spring area <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=204822802638488143694.0004c1e3e9020b36d6c41&amp;msa=0">extends from Old Lynchburg Road to just beyond Shamrock Road</a>. It encompasses numerous streets in between and has seen dozens of transactions over the past couple of years with prices ranging from $108,800 to $882,500.</p>
<p>The neighborhood traces its beginnings to 1839 when James Francis Fry built a plantation home called Azalea Hall on land he received from his father-in-law. Azalea Hall was reportedly located south of the modern-day Fry’s Spring neighborhood on a site in the vicinity of today’s Azalea Park. But the feature that drew the most interest wasn’t Fry’s showcase home, it was his naturally occurring spring. In the mid-1800s, natural springs were not only important water sources, they were also thought to have curative properties, and the area around Fry’s Spring soon became a public gathering place.</p>
<p>In 1890, the Fry family transferred ownership of their estate to Jesse Lewis Maury, who opened the Albemarle Hotel&#8211; later known as the Jefferson Park Hotel&#8211; in 1892.&nbsp;Hoping to keep his 100-room hotel full, Maury applied for permission to operate a railway along the city streets, though his efforts didn’t garner <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;q=cache:UJbptJOvJ2kJ:www.charlottesville.org/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid%3D16450+fry's+spring+history&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;pid=bl&amp;srcid=ADGEESjiBwPtOef7Dzi-eNWwDNcUutQfpbcavWOwOpJS7CrEOyQqrZNP11VSAgdX-MK6E0Kc5NAD21Y0p2L8K1BVHHWmyCPr_7NzOY2Y0DloTtuIo4F7IAaKSwlds2nXPqdNl5OxOdsE&amp;sig=AHIEtbTPQxEGlHkSZBU3TUn2ZNCSKYBRgg">much support</a>, and the tracks that were constructed&#8211; documented by prolific 19th and early 20th century Charlottesville photographer Rufus Holsinger&#8211; have long since <a href="http://charlottesvillethenandnow.blogspot.com/2012/11/jefferson-park-avenue.html">disappeared</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>According to <em>Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, A Pictorial History</em>, by Fred T. Heblich and Mary Ann Elwood, the aforementioned steeplechase was first held in the late 1800s on a portion of the Fry estate, and by 1900 the Albemarle Horse Show Association was holding its yearly exposition at Fry's Spring. In 1907, the Wonderland Corporation created what is described by <a href="http://www.frysspring.org/history/">some sources</a> as a "menagerie" and by <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;q=cache:UJbptJOvJ2kJ:www.charlottesville.org/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid%3D16450+fry's+spring+history&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us&amp;pid=bl&amp;srcid=ADGEESjiBwPtOef7Dzi-eNWwDNcUutQfpbcavWOwOpJS7CrEOyQqrZNP11VSAgdX-MK6E0Kc5NAD21Y0p2L8K1BVHHWmyCPr_7NzOY2Y0DloTtuIo4F7IAaKSwlds2nXPqdNl5OxOdsE&amp;sig=AHIEtbTPQxEGlHkSZBU3TUn2ZNCSKYBRgg">others</a> as an "amusement park" on property adjacent to the Albemarle Hotel.</p>
<p>The presence of the hotel and the park that surrounded the spring proved attractive to homeowners seeking a healthy alternative to city life, and land development companies abounded. Following the economic crash of 1893, the hotel foundered and the surrounding land was carved into lots, allowing the Fry’s Spring neighborhood to thrive even as the hotel was demolished in the early 20th century.</p>
<p>The loss of both the short-lived Wonderland and the Jefferson Park Hotel undoubtedly changed the character of the neighborhood, but residents didn’t have to wait long before the Fry’s Spring Beach Club helped fill the void. According to Rufus Holsinger's book <em>Holsinger's Charlottesville,</em> in 1921, G. Russell Dettor purchased the Fry's Spring complex where the Albemarle Hotel, its park, and the surrounding amusements had once stood.</p>
<p>The club opened for business and became a huge success in the community, though it refused to admit African Americans until 1970. In 1992, the club was sold to its members, and the pool was replaced in 2003.</p>
<p>Inessa Telefus, Vice-President of the <a href="http://fsna.avenue.org/">Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association</a>, feels that the Fry's Spring Beach Club, which continues to operate today and is located within walking distance of her home, enhances the experience of living in the neighborhood.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Telefus, who first lived in the Fry’s Spring area as a renter in the late 1990s and became a homeowner there in 2004, notes some of the changes she has observed.</p>
<p>“Jefferson Park Avenue used to have a more residential feel. Now there are high-rise apartment buildings,” she says. “Things are still changing in pockets where the student rentals are clustered, but I think the students bring great energy to neighborhood.”</p>
<p>Telefus says that having sidewalks and being within walking distance of the university were important criteria when it came to choosing a place to live. These days, she’s thrilled to be able to stop for coffee or grab a pizza at Fry’s Spring Station along the way, though she admits to wishing that the trolley stopped at the Beach Club.</p>
<p>But public transportation is still fairly accessible. “You can walk down to JPA and hop on the trolley,” she says.</p>
<p>As an agent with Loring Woodriff Real Estate Associates, Telefus believes that real estate in Fry’s Spring is a desirable investment. “There are houses with various price points, and some families move up to larger homes within the neighborhood,” she observes. “We’re a community geared toward families. We have charming older houses on park-like settings with lovely trees, many families can walk to the Beach Club and to the elementary schools, and there’s also Azalea Park, which has been renovated and connects to the Rivanna Trails.”</p>
<p>Though Telefus notes that some families have relocated due to the number of renters, she doesn’t see this as a problem, especially given the active involvement of the Neighborhood Association.</p>
<p>“We’re trying to protect and preserve the neighborhood feel and to minimize the impact of the renters and the students. Besides,” she adds with a laugh, “where else can you live and hear the Rolling Stones?”</p>
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http://www.readthehook.com/109303/spotlight-frys-spring#comments_BreakingNewsfry's springreal estateReal Estate - On the BlockWed, 20 Mar 2013 00:18:43 +0000Samantha Masone109303 at http://www.readthehook.comUnranched: Pop-up and more enliven in Fry'shttp://www.readthehook.com/102760/100-troost-court-expanded-home-provides-several-surprises-and-multitude-potential-uses
<p><span><b>Address:</b> 100 Troost Court<b><br />Neighborhood:</b> Fry’s Spring, Charlottesville<b><br />Asking: </b>$359,900<b><br />Assessment:</b> $351,100<b><br />Year Built:</b> 1961<b><br />Size:</b> &nbsp;2,580 finished sq. ft., 1,290 unfinished<b><br />Land:</b> .53 acres<b><br />Curb Appeal:</b> 4 out of 10<b><br />Listing Agent:</b> Deborah Rutter, Nest Realty, 434-996-2142</span></p>
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<p><span><span> </span>Once just a single-level 3bed/1bath brick ranch, the home perched on top of a hill at the corner of Troost and McElroy is full of surprises. To start with, the front door is accessed through a sunroom that was the first of two additions this home has seen, and it opens into one of the home’s original three bedrooms. An unusual configuration, to be sure, but the former bedroom has been repurposed into a lovely bonus room that currently houses a grand piano and would easily convert to either a mudroom or a more formal entry space.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>A short hallway leads to two bedrooms and a full bath at the back. Though the humble size of both bedrooms and their closets is reflective of the Eisenhower/Kennedy era, the owners have tastefully updated the spaces with custom light fixtures and vivid paint choices. &nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>The living room is spacious and modern with a wood-burning fireplace and a huge picture window brings plenty of natural light from the sunroom. With French-style doors that lead onto an ample deck, </span><span>the adjacent dining area is roomy and bright</span><span>. There’s sufficient space to hold a sideboard in addition to a dining table, and a small built-in desk offers a convenient spot for sorting mail and checking email.</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>The galley-style kitchen is a real stunner with cherry cabinets, ceramic tile, a double sink, and stainless appliances. A 6-burner Southbend commercial range flanked by butcher-block counters and topped off with a Thermador hood&#8211; along with two warming lamps&#8211; will surely satisfy the most ardent cook.</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>Comprising over 1,000 square feet, the walkout basement easily houses a couple of workbenches, a large laundry area, and plenty of room for storage. And, located at the foot of the stairs, a climate- and humidity-controlled wine cellar allows party hosts to keep a variety of vintages on hand.</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>But the biggest surprise of all awaits in the addition that increased the home by an entire level. A staircase off the main entry leads into a skylit chamber currently functioning as a sitting room. But the main feature of the pop-up is the large master bedroom </span><span> with vaulted ceiling</span><span>. It includes a dressing area, two generous closets&#8211; one a walk-in&#8211; and a tiled bath with an oversized shower.</span></p>
<p><span><span> </span>The interior living spaces in this house are comfortable and flexible and could be adapted to numerous different uses. They require little if any updating, with the exception of the sunroom, which could be modernized with simple cosmetic touches such as painting the trim and replacing the indoor/outdoor carpet with tile, slate, or soapstone.</span></p>
<p><span>With both the sunroom and a greenhouse situated along the front elevation, the house is noticeably short on curb appeal. However, </span><span>prospective buyers might remember the adage about not judging a book by its cover, for the lackluster exterior belies the upscale finishes found within. Replacing the sliders that ring the sunroom with more modern (and energy-efficient) doors and relocating the greenhouse could go a long way toward sprucing up the facade and providing an external appearance more in keeping with the fine quality of the interior.<br />~<br /></span><i>Each week, a brave local seller invites the Hook in for a candid, warts-and-all review. Email <a href="mailto:block@readthehook.com">block@readthehook.com</a> to schedule yours today.</i></p>
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http://www.readthehook.com/102760/100-troost-court-expanded-home-provides-several-surprises-and-multitude-potential-uses#commentscharlottesvillefry's springreal estateReal Estate - On the BlockThu, 02 Feb 2012 17:14:53 +0000Samantha Masone102760 at http://www.readthehook.com